284 Lake/ River/ Ponds to Explore in United Kingdom

A beautiful lake located in a picturesque location which is about half a mile down from the village, where you can hire boats and bikes from Coniston Boating Centre. There are shops, pubs, and places to eat in the village, and a range of guest houses, B and Bs and holiday cottages in Coniston and nearby. More recently Coniston Water was used to transport slate and ore from the many mines worked in the Coppermines Valley above Coniston village. It has three small islands, all owned by the Nationa

This unique area of over 150 lakes has something for everyone – from watersports and land activities, fantastic and varied birdwatching, excellent angling, off-road cycling, an inland beach, peaceful lakeside walks to beautiful Cotswold towns and villages waiting to be explored. You can come for a day visit, a short break or a family holiday.

The Coventry Canal is a navigable narrow canal in the Midlands of England. It starts in Coventry and ends 38 miles (61 km) to the north at Fradley Junction, just north of Lichfield, where it joins the Trent and Mersey Canal. It also has connections with the Ashby Canal, the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and the Oxford Canal.

A beautiful reservoir which was located in the heart of East danbartonshire county. This reservoir was begun on the 1st May 1886 and completed on the 11th June 1896. The reservoir was brought into operation on the 1st January 1897 after geological problems necessitated the excavation of a deep trench to ensure that it was fully watertight.

A beautiful freshwater loch in the Parish of New Cumnock in the East Ayrshire Council Area between Cumnock and New Cumnock, Scotland. It is located in a glacial kettle hole and is one of three linked lochs. It offers so many leisure activates and also you can spend some beautiful time in the banks of this loch.

A wonderful waterway to explore by canoe or kayak, surrounded by the stunning scenery of Argyll & Bute. The nine-mile-long canal links Ardrishaig at the Firth of Clyde with the picturesque village of Crinan and the spectacular scenery of Scotland’s west coast. The Crinan also offers the chance to see some incredible wildlife. Visitors can catch a glimpse of deer and rare red squirrels in the surrounding pine forests.

The Cromford Canal used to run for 14.5 miles from Cromford to Langley Mill where it met the Erewash Canal with a branch to Pinxton. Built by William Jessop with help from Benjamin Outram, it's mostly derelict but still makes for a beautiful Derbyshire canal walk. The canal is ideal for walkers of all ages and abilities, and with regular public transport stops along the northern stretch you don’t have to walk back to your starting point if you don’t want to.

Crummock Water is the longest of three lakes in the Buttermere Valley cared for by the National Trust. This long lake is often ignored by visitors in favour of its smaller neighbour, Buttermere, and as such it offers a quieter alternative for a lakeside picnic and paddle if you are willing to walk a short distance.

Daneshill Lakes is an area of restored and flooded gravel pits that now provides a home to a diverse range of wildlife. The gravel pits themselves have been flooded to create an open water habitat surrounded by willow woodland. There's wetlands, woodland, grassland, flowering plants and lots of wildlife to look out for on the site. Look out for grebes, swans, willow warbler, whitethroat, and blackcap on your walk.

Derwent Reservoir is the middle of three reservoirs in the Upper Derwent Valley in the north of Derbyshire, England. It lies approximately 10 miles from Glossop and 10 miles from Sheffield. The River Derwent flows first through Howden Reservoir, then Derwent Reservoir, and finally through Ladybower Reservoir. One of the iconic attractions surrounded by nature and it is a nice area to relax too.

Derwent Reservoir is a reservoir on the River Derwent, on the border between County Durham and Northumberland, in England. It is west of Consett. It is one of the biggest inland waters in England. It also hosts a sailing club, which holds many events throughout the year, including windsurfing, sailing, running, and triathlons. The area around the reservoir hosts the annual Tour of the Reservoir cycle race.

Derwentwater, at 3 miles long, 1 mile wide, and 72 feet deep, is just a short stroll from Keswick town along well-maintained footpaths. The lake is very much a landscape of moods, varying from the dramatic waves splashing against Friar’s Crag when driven by southerly gales, to the absolute mirror-calm of early mornings. One of the iconic locations where you can spend some time and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Dorney Lake is a purpose-built rowing lake in England. It is near the village of Dorney, Buckinghamshire, and is around 3 km (2 miles) west of Windsor and Eton, close to the River Thames. Open to the public all year round, come and experience the awe inspiring 2,200m Olympic Standard Lake or explore the 400 acres of Arboretum Parkland boasting over 30,000 trees of both native and exotic species.

Dovedale is a beautiful valley and known for the River Dove and its impressive limestone ravines, but the most iconic part of a trip to Dovedale has to be the picturesque stepping stones. The geology of Dovedale consists largely of limestone rock, which over the years has been cut into craggy rock pinnacles and caves, creating one of Britain’s most beautiful landscapes.

Dovestone Reservoir lies at the convergence of the valleys of the Greenfield and Chew Brooks above the village of Greenfield, on Saddleworth Moor in Greater Manchester, England. The reservoir is on the western edge of the Peak District National Park. It supplies drinking water to the surrounding area and is a tourist attraction, providing several walks amongst picturesque landscapes.

Draycote Water is a 240-hectare reservoir and country park near the village of Dunchurch, 3.75 miles south of Rugby in Warwickshire, England, owned and operated by Severn Trent Water. It draws its water from the River Leam, and supplies drinking water to Rugby and Coventry. It is named after the nearby hamlet of Draycote.

Drayton Reservoir is a reservoir in Daventry, Northamptonshire, England. This Reservoir is a feeder reservoir for the Grand Union Canal. When water is required for the canal the water level at Drayton can drop by 30 cm or more in a day. Drayton Reservoir was controlled by British Waterways until their responsibilities for waterways in England and Wales were transferred to the Canal & River Trust and is home to Rugby Sailing Club.

The Driffield Navigation is actually made up of a number of linked waterways situated in East Yorkshire to the north of the Humber. The main part of the route is the River Hull while at the northern end is Frodingham Beck and the Driffield Canal. The navigation gradually became more profitable, and although railways arrived at Driffield in 1846, the navigation continued to prosper and increase its traffic until the 1870s, after which there was a gradual decline.

Dunorlan Park was originally a 78-acre landscape garden of a grand mansion built by the Yorkshire-born merchant Henry ReedIt was a special place where everyone can enjoy a richly varied Victorian garden, meadows, and wildlife, as well as the amenities of a modern park. There’s plenty to do besides admire the grounds, however – the park has a putting green, an events field, and a welcoming cafe, and, in the summer, boating takes place on the lake. There are also so many things to see and do here.

Earlswood Lakes, a series of canal reservoirs, created in the Imperial period to serve the Stratford upon Avon canal. A pumping station survives, but the engine has been removed from the building. They still supply the canal, and also provide leisure facilities, including sailing, fishing and walking. The northern banks of the lakes form the county boundary with the West Midlands.